The snowstorm of January 14 to 17, 2003

The Regional Snowfall Index is NOAA’s ranking of snowstorms east of the Rockies by how much snow fell, over how wide an area and on how many people, region by region: the area and the population above four snowfall thresholds set for each region, weighted against that region’s own history. A storm is scored in each region it reached, on a scale from 1, notable, to 5, extreme.

Events

544

Deaths

7

Injuries

13

Damage

$371,000

Episodes

78

Every winter weather episode the Weather Service filed east of the Rockies in these dates. A few may belong to another system on the same days. Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

• Heavy Snow in New York, January 13, 2003$8,000 · 1 eventA cold front brought a general four to six inch snowfall to much of the region. Across the higher elevations of the Tug Hill, snowfalls of seven to nine inches were reported.
• Winter Storm in Montana, January 14, 20037 eventsA winter storm moved through a portion of Southwest and North Central Montana from the 21st to the 22nd.
• Cold in Pennsylvania, January 14 to 29, 20034 deaths · 10 eventsA cold frontal passage on the 13th initiated about a two week run of unseasonably cold weather, even by January standards across Eastern Pennsylvania. There were four cold related deaths in Southeastern Pennsylvania. All were found in unheated homes.
• Cold in New Jersey, January 14 to 29, 20031 death · 7 injured · 21 eventsA cold frontal passage on the 13th initiated about a two week run of unseasonably cold weather, even by January standards across New Jersey. There was one cold related death and a few others that were indirectly caused by the cold weather.
• Cold in Delaware, January 14 to 29, 20034 eventsA cold frontal passage on the 13th initiated about a two week run of unseasonably cold weather, even by January standards across the Delmarva Peninsula. The coldest mornings were the mornings of the 18th and 28th as low temperatures dipped into the single numbers.
• Cold in Maryland, January 14 to 28, 20035 eventsA cold frontal passage on the 13th initiated about a two week run of unseasonably cold weather, even by January standards across the Delmarva Peninsula. The coldest morning was the morning of the 18th as low temperatures dipped into the single numbers.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, January 14 to 15, 20034 eventsAs a strong cold front passed over Upper Michigan during the afternoon on January 12th, lake effect snow showers developed over the west by late in the day and in the eastern lake shore counties that night. The snow belts favored by a northwest wind recorded the most snow.
• Cold in West Virginia, January 14 to 28, 200334 eventsMany counties remained below freezing for 2 weeks, while southern counties rose briefly above 32 degrees only on the 20th. Several light snow events occurred, maintaining a snow cover. The airport at Elkins reached 14 degrees below zero on the morning of 18th.
• Cold in Ohio, January 14 to 28, 20039 eventsTwo weeks of subfreezing temperatures occurred from the Hocking River Valley on north. This included Marietta and the lower Muskingum River Valley. Meanwhile, further south, some counties rose briefly above 32 degrees on the 20th.
• Cold in Kentucky, January 14 to 28, 20034 eventsTemperatures were well below normal levels for a 2 week period. Daily high temperatures were mostly in the 20s and lower 30s, with low readings in the single digits and teens. The coldest readings were just after dawn on Monday the 27th.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, January 14 to 15, 200318 eventsA weak winter storm produced one half (0.5) to one and one half (1.5) inches of snow across portions of the Virginia northern neck, middle peninsula, and Hampton Roads area.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, January 15, 2003$150,000 · 2 eventsCold westerly winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop around midnight. These snow showers intensified during the morning hours and continued through the afternoon. This activity finally dissipated during the evening hours.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 15, 2003$100,000 · 1 eventCold westerly winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop around midnight. These snow showers intensified during the morning hours and continued through the afternoon. This activity finally dissipated during the evening hours.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, January 15, 20034 eventsA weak winter storm produced around one half (0.5) inch of snow across portions of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore. A specific snow total in Princess Anne in Somerset county was 0.5".
• Heavy Snow in New York, January 15, 2003$90,000 · 6 eventsA weak low approached from the upper Great Lakes and slowly passed to our north during Wednesday the 15th. Lake effect snows began to develop off Lake Erie during the evening hours of the 14th.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, January 15 to 16, 20037 eventsA slow moving low pressure system moved across the Central Plains and brought heavy snow to much of western South Dakota. Northwestern South Dakota received 8 to 10 inches of snow and a few locations in Perkins and Harding Counties measured 12 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, January 15, 20036 eventsHeavy snow of 6 to 11 inches fell across much of central South Dakota from the morning and into the evening hours. Many schools were closed early and there were a few vehicle accidents.
• Heavy Snow in Montana, January 15, 20031 event6 inches of new snow in Big Timber
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, January 15, 20034 eventsWidespread snow accumulated 6 to 12 inches. The snowfall was accompanied by little wind and caused minimal disruption. The greatest accumulation of 12 inches was reported at the towns of Gregory and Burke.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, January 15 to 16, 2003$23,000 · 19 eventsA winter storm spread west to east over north central and northeast Kansas beginning the afternoon of the 15th before ending the morning of the 16th. Over north central Kansas snow was preceded by freezing rain which caused icy roads.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, January 15 to 16, 200327 eventsLight snow developed across northeast Nebraska Wednesday morning, 1/15/03, and slowly spread southeast reaching the Omaha and Lincoln areas by early Wednesday evening and then southwest Iowa shortly thereafter.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, January 15 to 16, 20036 eventsLight snow developed across northeast Nebraska Wednesday morning, 1/15/03, and slowly spread southeast reaching the Omaha and Lincoln areas by early Wednesday evening and then southwest Iowa shortly thereafter.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, January 15 to 16, 20031 eventThe seasons first significant snowfall occurred as low pressure tracked southeast out of the northern Rockies. The track of the low was well to the southwest of Iowa, however the overrunning precipitation band was well to the northeast of the track.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 15 to 16, 20032 eventsA narrow band of heavy snow fell across parts of Northeast Missouri. Snow amounts across Knox and Lewis counties ranged from 4 to 6 inches.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, January 15 to 16, 20032 eventsA narrow band of heavy snow fell across parts of West Central Illinois. Snow amounts ranged from 4 - 6 inches.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, January 15 to 16, 20034 eventsA winter storm producing 3 to 8 inches of snow, moved across east central Kansas late on January 15th and ended on January 16th. Snowfall totals of 7 inches were reported in Effingham and Leavenworth, with 6 inches on the ground in Overland Park.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 15 to 16, 20031 eventA storm system moved across Platte county in west central Missouri, late on January 15th and ending on January 16th. Snowfall amounts were as high as 7 inches along the Missouri river.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, January 15 to 16, 20033 eventsA vigorous winter storm developed over the plains during the evening and moved across northern Missouri and central Illinois on the 16th.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, January 15 to 16, 20032 eventsA vigorous winter storm developed over the plains during the evening and moved across northern Missouri and central Illinois on the 16th.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 15 to 16, 20032 eventsA vigorous winter storm developed over the plains during the evening and moved across northern Missouri and central Illinois on the 16th.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 16, 200310 eventsThe storm hit during the morning commute time on a weekday, so it had a major impact on traffic. The snow fell at the rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour around the morning drive time. Many schools cancelled classes.
• Heavy Snow in New York, January 16, 20031 eventA weak low pressure system crossed upstate New York during the 15th. After the low moved through, colder air from the west northwest set off lake effect snow showers. A west to east band of lake effect snow moved into northern Oneida County the evening of the 15th.
• Winter Storm in Kentucky, January 16, 200317 eventsThe storm hit during the morning commute time on a weekday, so it had a major impact on traffic. The snow fell at the rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour around the morning drive time. Many schools cancelled classes.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, January 16, 20031 injured · 1 eventSnow caused slippery road conditions and led to a 56 year old male driver of a tractor-trailer to lose control on Interstate 35 1 mile northwest of Homewood. The male driver was injured when the tractor-trailer overturned.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 16, 20035 eventsA winter storm moved across portions of northwest and north central Missouri on January 16th. The storm produced a swath of 3 to 8 inch snows, from Maryville east to Princeton.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, January 16, 20036 eventsAlthough the heaviest snow fell across western Kentucky, there was an inch or two of snow along and south of Interstate 64 in southwest Indiana. A series of accidents closed a portion of the Lloyd Expressway in Evansville during the evening commute.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, January 16, 20036 eventsThe storm hit during the morning commute time on a weekday, so it had a major impact on traffic. The snow fell at the rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour around the morning drive time. Many schools cancelled classes.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, January 16, 2003$60 · 6 eventsHeavy snow fell on parts of northeast Arkansas with some locations receiving five inches.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 16, 20033 eventsA winter storm moved across portions of northern Missouri on January 16th. Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 to 7 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, January 16, 2003$20 · 2 eventsHeavy snow fell across the Missouri bootheel with as much as 6 inches of accumulation.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, January 16, 200324 eventsHeavy snow moved into Middle Tennessee faster and heavier than forecasters thought. There was as much as 8 inches of snow in Gallatin and 7 inches at the NWS Office at Old Hickory.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 16 to 17, 200317 eventsLight snow, mixed with some light pockets of sleet, fell across north central and northeast Georgia. The snow was the result of a strong arctic cold front moving through the region as a weak upper-level disturbance moved over the area.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 16, 200340 eventsA storm system moved from the southern plains across the Tennessee Valley of Alabama into the southern Appalachians bringing snowfall amounts ranging from 2 to 8 inches across eastern Tennessee.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 16, 20032 eventsA storm system moved east from the Southern Plains across the Tennessee Valley of Alabama into the Southern Applachians bringing snowfall totals ranging from 2 to 4 inches across Cherokee and Clay counties of extreme southwest North Carolina.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 16 to 17, 20032 eventsSnow accumulated 3 to 7 inches, before diminishing to scattered snow showers.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, January 16 to 17, 20031 eventLow pressure moving just south of the region brought light snow to Southern Maryland between the afternoon of the 16th and the early morning hours of the 17th. In St.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, January 16 to 17, 20034 eventsSnow accumulated 3 to 6 inches before diminishing to scattered snow showers.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 16 to 17, 200325 eventsA winter storm slammed into eastern Kentucky during the afternoon of Thursday, January 17, 2003 and dumped heavy amounts of snow over the region.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, January 16, 20036 events3 to 6 inches of snow was common across the Cumberland Plateau.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, January 16, 20031 death · 2 injured · 1 eventIcy roads resulted in slick conditions and caused the driver of a van to lose control. The van slid into a ditch 2 miles northeast of Minneapolis and rolled over killing the female driver and injuring 2 female passengers.
• Winter Storm in Ohio, January 16, 20034 eventsLow pressure tracking across the upper Tennessee valley, produced a swath of snow across the southern half of Ohio. Two to three inches fell across the region, with isolated amounts up to four inches.
• Winter Storm in Indiana, January 16, 20031 eventLow pressure tracking across the upper Tennessee valley produced snow across southeast Indiana. Up to four inches of snow fell through early evening.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, January 16, 20031 death · 1 eventIcy roads caused the driver of a vehicle to lose control 1 mile east of Minneapolis. The vehicle rolled down the embankment and killed the female driver.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, January 16, 20032 injured · 1 eventIcy roads caused the driver of a vehicle to lose control 18 miles south of Concordia resulting in injuries to the female driver and a male passenger.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 16 to 17, 200313 eventsLight snow began across the mountains of North Carolina during the afternoon of the 16th, and gradually intensified with time. By early morning of the 17th, 4 to 8 inches of snow had accumulated. As much as a foot was reported on some of the highest peaks.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, January 16, 200312 eventsLight snow fell during the evening across portions of the foothills and piedmont of North Carolina, and accumulated to 1 to 2 inches. Numerous traffic accidents ensued.
• Winter Weather in South Carolina, January 16, 20036 eventsLight snow fell during the evening across upstate South Carolina, and accumulated to 1 to 2 inches. Numerous traffic accidents ensued.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 16, 20033 eventsLight snow began over the South Carolina mountains during the late afternoon of the 16th, and gradually intensified with time. By late evening, 3 to 4 inches had accumulated.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, January 16, 20032 eventsLight snow fell during the evening and accumulated to 1 to 2 inches. Some traffic accidents resulted.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 16, 20031 eventLight snow began during the late afternoon across the far northern mountains of Georgia, and gradually intensified. By late evening, 3 to 4 inches had accumulated.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, January 16, 20031 injured · 1 eventIcy road conditions caused the driver of a vehicle to lose control 1 mile east of Minneapolis and collide with a tractor-trailer. The 32 year old female driver of the vehicle was injured.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 16, 20035 eventsA storm system moved east from the southern plains across the Tennessee Valley of Alabama into the southern Appalachians bringing snowfall amounts ranging from 2 to 4 inches across Southwest Virginia.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 16 to 17, 20034 eventsLight snow began across the northern foothills during the early evening of the 16th, and gradually intensified with time. By midnight, 4 to 5 inches had accumulated. Near Marion, 2 people drowned when their vehicle slid off of a snow covered road into a creek
• Winter Weather in Maryland, January 16 to 17, 20034 eventsA low pressure system that formed over the central Rockies on Wednesday the 15th rapidly moved east and spread snow across the Maryland Eastern Shore during the night of the 16th.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, January 16 to 17, 20032 eventsA low pressure system that formed over the central Rockies on Wednesday the 15th rapidly moved east and spread snow across New Jersey during the night of the 16th. The heaviest snow fell in Cape May County. Elsewhere in the state, accumulations were less than two inches.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 16 to 17, 200327 eventsA winter storm produced 4 to 8 inches of snow across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 16 to 17, 200315 eventsA winter storm produced 1 to 3 inches of snow across portions of central and southeast Virginia.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, January 16 to 17, 20035 eventsA winter storm produced 3 to 5 inches of snow across the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore. Some specific higher snow totals included: Princess Anne in Somerset county 5", Pocomoke in Worcester county 5", Countywide in Dorchester county 4", and Countywide in Wicomico county 4".
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 16 to 17, 20034 eventsA winter storm produced 1 to 2 inches of snow along with a light coating of freezing rain and sleet across portions of northeast North Carolina. Specific snow totals included: Margarettsville in Northampton county 2", and Jackson in Northampton county 1".
• Heavy Snow in Delaware, January 16 to 17, 20032 eventsA low pressure system that formed over the central Rockies on Wednesday the 15th rapidly moved east and spread heavy snow across southern sections of Sussex County in Delaware.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 16 to 17, 20031 eventSnow accumulated 3 to 6 inches across northern Campbell County and Lynchburg, with over 60 automobile accidents reported.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, January 17, 20032 eventsVery cold air moved south over Lake Michigan late on January 16th and during the morning hours of January 17th. Winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere were due north which allowed a narrow, persistent band of lake effect snow to form.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, January 17, 200311 eventsA strong cold front moved across the region producing gusty northwest winds to 35 mph and scattered snowshowers.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, January 17 to 18, 200310 eventsA strong cold front raced across the Northern Plains during the late afternoon and evening.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 17, 20031 eventA strong and fast moving cold front raced across the northern plains during the late afternoon and evening hours.
• Ice Storm in Alaska, January 17, 20031 eventWarm, moist air associated with an occluded front moving north across the Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound, produced widespread rains.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, January 18, 20033 eventsA combination lake effect enhanced synoptic system produced locally heavy snowfall across a few counties of western lowerMichigan. Eight to eleven inches of snow fell across most of eastern Mason and Oceana counties.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, January 18, 20036 eventsAround one inch of snow fell across southwest Indiana. The Indiana State Police investigated 18 vehicle accidents or slide-offs. Most of the wrecks occurred on Interstate 64 in Warrick County, between Lynnville and Dale.

The snowstorm of January 2 to 5, 2003The snowstorm of February 6 to 8, 2003Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.